Humor Books

AWESOME! Stories and illustrations are top rate! Even my Dad (a die hard fan) would approve.

If you've never read (or wanted to read) Uncle Scrooge stories, thinking they're just funny animal comics, take a look at this book. You'll be surprised. This is an epic. The detail Rosa puts into these stories and illustrations is incredible. I find myself going mad, staring at covers and splash pages, seeking out the cleverly hidden D.U.C.K.s. The stories are enhanced by Rosa's "director's notes" after each story. I've never read much Uncle Scrooge before, but I'm going to seek out as much Rosa (and Barks) as I can, now.

I was fasinated by the way Don Rosa treated Carl Barks' story and yet put his own stamp on both the Duck, the clientele and history, even details of geografy like in Dawson. So it may be excused that Mississippi and Ohio are mixed a bit. All in all, if you care for Scrooge McDuck, the book is a must. If you do not care about him, be careful not to read it, you just might become a follower.

My kids love this book! I love this book! The only reason I give it a 4 star rating instead of a 5 is because the binding is terrible. I bought 2 of these books and after a few times of handling the book, the binding pops off the cover and individual pages start falling out. Very frustrating.

(this review encompasses both The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck and the Life and Times Companion--I highly recommend reading the two in conjunction)

I know I'm not the only duck fan who refuses to read any non-Carl Barks stories--unless they're by Don Rosa. Rosa seems to be the only one who really understands and respects Barks' work; unlike the great mass of European duck writers, he builds upon it while not dragging it off in overly cartoonish, Disney-esque directions. His best stories rival those of the master--and the work under consideration can definitely be put in that category. That he was able to synthesize so many off-hand Barks references into a coherent narrative--let alone one that astounds and delights the way this does--is really pretty incredible.

The Life and Times has its flaws, as perhaps do ALL great literary works (yes! I said it). The fact that Rosa had to work within a fairly tight framework with a specific goal in mind means that some of the stories, especially the earlier ones, can feel a little forced. The final installment, although necessary, feels a little bit pat. And--although this may be just a matter of personal preference--I feel like Scrooge's initial encounter with Flintheart Glomgold in the African section gives ol' Flinty short shrift. In Barks' stories--the first two, at least--he's a more complex character than he's given credit for here.

That said, however, this does a LOT more right than it does wrong. Rosa has worked before to expand Scrooge's character (see the absolutely essential "Last Sled to Dawson," readily available in several collections), but here he really takes it to another level. The first half of this narrative is more or less straight adventure stories (rousing adventure stories!), but things become considerably more interesting in the latter half, for several reasons. Firstly, there are the Yukon stories with Scrooge's lost love Glittering Goldie. These are particularly popular with fans, and for good reason: I don't really imagine that Barks had any notion when he introduced the character that the two of them would have had so much history, but Rosa handles it beautifully. He's SUCH a hopeless romantic when it comes to the two of them. I love it. Furthermore! "Prisoner of White Agony Creek" features an implied sex scene! Much to everyone's delight! Barks couldn't have gotten away with something like that. And if you never imagined that a duck comic could break your heart, you haven't read "Hearts of the Yukon."

Secondly, Rosa doesn't shy away from showing the less appealing aspects of Scrooge's character. In the latter part of the series, we see him gradually losing his ability to take in natural beauty for anything other than its potential for exploitation for monetary gain; we also see him being increasingly vicious and inequitable in his business dealings. "The Sharpie of the Culebra Cut"* even touches on something you wouldn't necessarily have expected; namely, the vague unease that some fans (like me) feel at the fact that Barks' archeological expeditions always involve Scrooge profiting from ancient treasures while disregarding their historical and cultural value.

The climax of the second half of the narrative comes in part eleven, though. Scrooge's highly self-satisfied account of his exploitation of African natives in Barks' "Voodoo Hoodoo" is an uncomfortable moment for duck fans; Rosa, to his credit, does not disregard this incident but confronts it head-on and makes it emblematic of Scrooge's moral downfall (of course, the fact that in Barks' story--after his alleged repentance--he's still gleeful about it doesn't make much sense, but I don't suppose there was much that could be done about that). Scrooge's return to Duckburg and subsequent abandonment by his sisters at the end of the story is quite powerfully dark. I almost wish the story had ended there--but, of course, that wouldn't have been appropriate, given the universe in which Rosa is operating.

Rosa also provides commentary on each story, which is fascinating to read. His love of and respect for this material is always apparent. It's inconceivable to me that, tasked with chronicling Scrooge's life, any other writer could have done as well. The book wouldn't exist without Barks' classic comics as a foundation, of course, but I'm going to go out on a blasphemous limb (the worst kind of limb!) and say that The Life and Times surpasses any of Barks' work. I can't read regular Scrooge comics in quite the same way since finishing it.

*Since Rosa is such a stickler for getting historical details correct, I have to be obnoxious and point out that he made a pretty big mistake here: Scrooge claims to be able to read Mayan glyphs, which is pretty impressive, since they hadn't even been deciphered at the time of the story.

This is a collection of Doonesbury comic strips telling the story of D.B.'s return to the U.S. and recovery from a leg amputation due to injuries sustained in Iraq. The book contains the now famous strip (at least among Doonesbury fans) depicting D.B. without a head covering. D.B.'s struggles and his interactions with friends and family are touching and very funny. I look forward to following the story.

I have been a fan of Doonesbury since high school in the early 1970's, I read it
every day. One of the first books I bought was ``Call Me When You Find America.''
This string of cartoons had an unusual tone -- Trudeau gets a forward from John McCain who used to regard him with ``utter comtempt''-- a serious and dark one behind the humor. It was the first Doonesbury book I could say was moving.

People die and get hurt in war. That's something we all "know".

But for people who actually have to deal with this fact, the rest of us, our ignornace can be a hurdle.

Trudeau presents this issue with in a way that is accessable to all, and with a humor that may seem out of place; but as my Dad used to say, laughter heals more ills than all the pills.

"Not your time,bro. Not today." With these words,B.D.'s life changes direction forever. In this book, Trudeau has brought home the high price paid by those who go to war, become injured,and must start their lives over again. Trudeau shows how important family , friends and other support are in travelling down that often difficult road to recovery. Who is to blame, is not the issue to these warriors returning to pick up their lives. He shows what an important function that Fisher House provides to both the veteran and the family.
This is probably the Trudeau book that can be read in the shortest time.It took me only 40 minutes and has only 93 pages. That is not important,though;as Trudeau gets the message through and is crystal clear.
This may be one of Trudeau's most important books;particularly since the proceeds from the book will go to benefit Fisher House.
A tip of the hat to Trudeau;and everyone who has been a Doonesbury fan should get behind Gary,buy the book;and help support Fisher House.

I really loved this book. It was recommended to me by my graduate thesis professor who is a leading edge researcher in prosthetics. I am also the mom of a disabled son AND I've worked with amputees during my graduate school years. This book speaks to the realities, doubts, and fears of being a disabled person, yet it's hopeful, too. Trudeau really captures the feelings and thoughts of both the amputee and family members. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is wrestling with amputation and/or disability issues and who wants a thoughtful (and sometimes lighthearted--there IS light in the darkness!) view on it. This book is realistic and human. Don't miss it.

Entertaining enough.
Most stories come from the web site.

Best if read in small doses

I one day came across the ZUG site and was blown away by the intensely funny nature of Sir John's writing. I then heard about the book he was releasing. I knew that if contained stories of the caliber on his site the book would be quite enjoyable. I was not mistaken, for the book was side-splittingly funny. It is one of those books you can reread over and over again.

After you read it through 5 or so times, show it to all of your friends. I got a massive kick out of watching other people read it. They would start to guffaw and chuckle at Sir John sublime comedy and I would join in. Good Times.

So far, i'm only around two thirds through the book and it is incredibly funny. If you enjoy the type of content on zug.com, and the unique writing style of Sir John Hargrave, I encourage you to buy this book.

YOU HEARD ME!!!!!

THIS BOOK HAS HAD ME LAUGHING SINCE I GOT IT TODAY(10/11/O7). IF THE REST OF THE BOOK IS AS GOOD AS IT HAS BEEN, THEN ITS DEF WORTH BUYING. THIS DUDE IS HILARIOUS AND I TRULY HOPE HE PUTS OUT ANOTHER BOOK. AWESOME AWESOME STUFF!!!!!

CLASSIC!!

I was delayed at an airport for 4 hrs, and decided to buy this book at the bookstore. I could not put it down. It made me forget I was so angry for being delayed. Besides his pranks being top notch, his writing really makes you identify with his perspective. You actually also learn a few interesting facts about how particular services or companies work (like how to rid yourself of junk mail). This is a great book; highly recommended.

I purchased a hardcover version of this book for my children about twenty years ago. It is so amusing and full of Santa's life at the North Pole. Santa's favourite cookies recipe is yummy - these had to be made every Christmas. I totally recommend this book for anyone young at heart.

I've had this book so long, and read it so often, that I'm shocked it's still in one piece. Alden Perkes, a master storyteller, presents an 'inside look' of the North Pole, the reindeer and elves, and-- of course-- Santa himself in such a convincing manner, this almost-30-year-old wants to believe all over again. So glad I can share it with my kids now, and that the magic continues...

I received this book for my first Christmas (1983) and spent many Christmases after that reading it under our Christmas tree. This book is full of imaginative, fun, and hilarious stories and characters. I cannot imagine a Christmas without it and recommend this book to everyone, young and old. I hope to share my copy with my children and help create the memories that it inspired in my youth.

I always remember this book being around our house every Christmas, and I would read it over and over- poring over it for hours. Alden's presentation of research was so "scientific" and official-looking that I believed way after all the other kids my age! In fact, when other kids would tell me they didn't believe anymore, I would tell them they were wrong and their parents had lied- Santa Claus IS real, I have the book!

Santa gave me this book when I was still a baby, and I've had it ever since. I'm 21 now and I still think this is the greatest book to read during the holidays. It makes you smile because the way it's written is just really heartwarming and really puts you in the holiday spirit. My mom calls me every year to tell me she got 'the Santa Book' out because I think she loves it more than I do! haha.

This book is simply delightful - my 8-year-old is constantly giggling - he is unable to read it to me for the laughter...He has a high reading level - but kids love it (almost as much as their parents!!) My son really is Calvin (I am a bit concerned he may be getting ideas from the little rascal!!)
LOVE IT!!!

. I like this book because it has funny parts.
. I also like the part when calvin pretends to be GodZilla and destoys Tokyo, which is the buildings that Calvin made in his sandbox.
. I dislike someparts of the book.
. I also dislike the part when Calvin pretends to be a zombie.

What can be said about Calvin & Hobbes that hasn't already been shouted to the heavens by legions of prematurely grown-up fans ?

Calvin is the eternal Child/Id within us all, and Hobbes is his stuffed tiger / best friend / faithful companion in arms come-to-life ... and together they swashbuckle their way through a childhood world populated with drooling monsters of the imagination, screaming ray-guns, carboard boxes turned magical transmogrifiers, and giant tut-tutting adults who are forever dragging us back from our revels by the ear, in order to make us wipe our feet, bathe, eat, do our homework, and go to bed on time.

By laughing at Calvin & Hobbes, we get to vicariously relive some of our own carefree childhoods exploits ... exploits which echo in our adult lives, because (looks both ways) we never actually grew up. Only our bodies did.

Highly recommended.

Calvin is in alliance with Hobbes to combat the monsters that lurk in his imagination. The victims of this battle? Usually, Calvin's hapless parents. This collection is among the funniest as it centers on the darker side of Calvin's runaway train of imagination: monsters, space creatures, icky girls, and nefarious snowmen. Pick it up, or the monsters in the closet will come out as well.

Well, I must admit I have had this book since I was in 8th grade when my best friend at the time gave it to me. I still crack up when I'm going through the pages upon pages of strange situations that Calvin and his stuffed friend find themselves in. Definately a must for any C&H fan and really funny. Buy it.

I received this as a gift from my wife. Its full of fun little stories, lists, suggestions (like "How to make a potato cannon", not "What type of shoes you should buy")and other guy related stuff. Its an easy read, and a sure attention getter when friends are over. You can't resist picking it up, flipping through it and remembering all manner of amusements and misadventure from your past.

This book will be despised by insecure women, metrosexuals, and victims of penile revocation. All others (including true women) will love it.

My brother bought me this book a while back and it is freaking phenomenal!

When I got it, this was the FIRST book I had EVER read that said it was okay to like the things it mentioned. Every other book I was force fed in school and beyond was about exploring feelings and being the tough yet sensitive male....blah, blah, blah.

It was nice to see that other people appreciate the sense of manhood conveyed by John Ford, John Wayne, Victor McLaglen etcetera....

And it was nice to see them mention the greatest ACTRESS of all time, Maureen O'Hara. The woman doesn't get enough credit for being an independently minded woman in the group of strutting males that was the John Ford Production Company. SHE is what a woman and feminist should be. (i.e. not hateful of, but respectful of the differences between the sexes)

By the way, it has a FANTASTIC steak recipe in it as well. Along with other such things.

I really, really, really recommend this book to anyone who is a man or any woman who likes them. If you are a man, you'll suddenly feel far more validated and as you read say things like "YEAH! That's right!" . If you are woman who just likes men, it might explain them to you a little better.

The Von Hoffmann brothers have nailed what it is to be a man. They have included in one volume all there is about the manly art of being a man. Women may not get insight into us, but men will grunt and howl in appreciation and agreement. A fantastic unapologetic look at all the things and people we love. Well done boys! It's sad that it's out of print. Get a copy wherever you can. Great stuff!

This is truly a great book. From Potato Cannons to instructions on how to play craps, this book has a great deal to offer many different types of people. A baby boomer male? This is a trip down memory lane, and will elicit lots of fond memories of childhood fads. The wife of a baby boomer? This book will give you some insight on those things on which he spent his wastrel youth. The child of a baby boomer? You'll get a glimpse of the ways your old man raised hell when he ws a kid/teen/young adult.
It's a shame this book is out of print. It ought to be re-introduced (and even updated.)

I have owned this book for several years and reference it on a regular basis in MANLY conversations. I have purchased several copies and give it as a gift only to very deserving "manly" friends and each time they have been eternally grateful. I decided to add a review after making the "Salt Steak" this weekend. It was unbelievably delicious even after wrapping in in newspaper and soaking it in a bucket of water. I also used the opportunity to initiate my 13 year-old son into manhood. He opened my beers and read the dirty jokes while the steak was cooking. What a bonding experience! I am purchasing his copy today.

I found this book to be exceptionally funny and have read several times over. I recommend this to any looking for a good laugh to cheer up a dreary afternoon.

As I read Zits, I am always stopping amid my chuckles to think that if this is how it is and boys have it this rough, then maybe we of the other half should consider we got through our teen years relatively unscathed.

The Cincinnati Enquirer's living treasure, Jim Borgman, has teamed up with writer Jerry Scott to create a funny, intelligent daily comic strip that rivals For Better Or For Worse in sheer insightful understanding of its subject matter. The four-panel stories of Jeremy, a perpetually fifteen-year-old high school freshman, and his daily misadventures on the rugged uphill climb of adolescence, tell an honest, sometimes rule-bending tale of growing up in modern America. Experiencing life through the eyes (ears, nose, emotions and wandering mind) of Jeremy as he deals with love, school, parents, friends, we are treated to some pretty good laughs. Zits has been around for most of the last decade but I only discovered it this summer, and I'm in the process of buying collections to see what I've been missing. "Sketchbook" was the first one I got and it's a jewel!

- this is a WONDERFUL, witty, funny, very true to life and very sweet representation of a teenager's day-to-day struggles. I have a teenage son who, while in high school, lived 'Zits'! I had saved many of my newspaper's strips to bring home and show him because of the similarity to what we were talking about at breakfast. I finally bought this book (I opened the first page and laughed out loud in the store!) and read it in one sitting cover to cover! I love it! It makes fun of all the teenage tragedies, parents, girlfiends, music, tests, all of it, and it does it with such wonderful sense of humor! I highly recommend it!

"Zits: Sketchbook 1" is simply wonderful! "Zits" is one of the best comic strips, full of teenager facts, personality traits, and humor! If you missed the first year of "Zits" or just want to refresh your memory, you must get this book! I recommend!

So, Calvin and Hobbes are gone.

Micheal and Elizabeth Patterson are no longer teenagers.

Where does one find the humor of teenagers and children? With this marvelous strip, we can be calmed in this world of headphones, Playstation 2's and constant self questioning. Teenagers are given the opportunity to laugh at themselves, with an excuse; they are SUPPOSED to! No one has to reveal that they are laughing at their best friend, or their boyfriend or girlfriend...because it is a comic strip! In the absense of a little boy and his tiger, of two siblings growing up together in Canada, Zits is a new addition to the childhood classics, which will come to be loved by all.

I've read this book several times. Every time I pick it up, I end up laughing until I almost cry. As a bachelor myself, I relate to the grains of reality underneath O'Rouke's great sarcasm.

Not as good as "Eat The Rich" or "Parliament of Whores" or "All The Trouble in the World" or "Holidays in Hell" or "Give War A Chance"; those books are thought-provoking as well as screamingly funny. This one is just screamingly funny, but this might actually be a plus for people whose response to some of P.J.'s better works is a defensive "That's not funny!"; P.J. has a tendancy to poke fun at EVERYTHING, including the sacred cows of people who he disagrees with (and sometimes those he agrees with.)

As a 32 yr old bacelor, this book had me literally HOWLING with laughter! I let my girlfriend read it. We aren't dating anymore, LOL. As ridiculous and as obscene as some of it seems, it is startling to realize that I have actually LIVED like that!

FIVE STARS,..!!!!!!

I've been on a tear of P.J. O'Rourke's books lately, starting with Republican Party Reptile and so forth. This is by far one of P.J.'s best. I'm on the other side of the coin politically (fairly liberal) myself, but P.J. usually spares no one, and I admire that (Rush and his wacko friends could learn a thing or two).

This book is just about how to get by if you're a bachelor. It's incredibly funny for the most part (the cooking sections should not be read if you've just ate!). This is a fantastic little book, very helpful if you plan to live like a slob or like a typical college freshman.

The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like A Pig written by P.J. O'Rourke is a very funny, keep you in stiches book.

You'll never keep a house neat and tidy after you read this book. Of Course, that's assuming that you already do. What its like as a bachelor in theory as to actually being one is, according to O'Rourke, a great disparity. If you want to laugh and be entertained at the same time then this little tome is for you to enjoy.

Humor abounds and your life will definately take a turn... for better or worse will depend on you.According to O'Rourke... "How often does a house need to be cleaned, anyway? As a general rule, once every girlfriend. After that she can get to know the real you."

Having read the Stephanie Plum books, this seemed like a rewrite with different names. And it wasn't nearly as funny. I had a hard time getting to the end...

I don't know why I liked this book, but I sure as hell did.

Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day is a wild and bodacious read. The characters - all of them - are over-the-top stereotypical to the point of caricature, yet for every time my mind said "corny-silly-ridiculous" my eyes kept sweeping over page after page, delighting in every redneck phrase and each Lucy-on-steroids type stunt.

I grew up in a south Georgia hole-in-the-wall town that pretty much could've been the setting for this crazy book, but if WE had a Bobbie Faye, I never knew her. But I wish I had.

Perhaps it's because I'm a fifty-year-old schoolteacher who hasn't seen much adventure in decades. Perhaps because reading is the bottle I crawl into when I want to be someone else, and this time I got to be someone really FUN.

Or perhaps it's just knowing I can ride through the streets of my hometown again with a better feeling.

Because when I pass those rusty trailers, run-down Jim Walter homes, and various forms of common southern shelter, I'll see beyond the outside and imagine that in one of them resides a real Bobbie Faye. And that hope gives the whole worn-down community a different and vibrant new color.

I recently attended a panel discussion of authors in which one of those in attendance indicated that he didn't think of BOBBIE FAYE'S VERY (VERY, VERY, VERY) BAD DAY, Toni McGee Causey's debut novel, as a thriller. Fair enough. But I beg to differ, and mightily. Everything in this impressive work screams thriller. You have your explosions. You have your karate. You have your sex --- chaste, yes, but some of the descriptions of Bobbie Faye Sumrall, the erstwhile heroine of the piece, are difficult to get out of your mind. Thriller? Yes. Nonstop action, mystery and suspense. And laughs as well.

Anyone who has ever awakened to find that their day has started without them and already rolled behind the eight-ball will identify with Bobbie Faye, whose morning begins with a household crisis of mini-biblical proportions and flows downhill from there. On what should be the best day of her year --- when she reigns as queen of the Lake Charles, Louisiana Contraband Days Festival --- Bobbie Faye has to deal with the kidnapping of Roy, her no-good, waste-of-skin brother, the theft of her tiara (which is the only thing she inherited from her mother) and a police manhunt of which she is the subject. All Bobbie Faye has to do is recover her tiara, give it to her brother's kidnappers as ransom, keep what is left of her trailer from being ransacked, hold Children's Services at bay so they don't abscond with her niece, and reign supreme as festival queen.

How is Bobbie Faye going to do it? Easy. She kidnaps a guy in a bank parking lot. And her luck may be running true to form. Trevor, her "victim," is just a little too worldly, knows a bit too much about guns, helicopters and lock-picking, and is really good looking. The fact that one of the policemen in hot pursuit of Bobbie Faye is one of her (many) ex-boyfriends doesn't help matters either. Well, actually, in some ways it does. And Bobbie Faye, a one-woman Cajun wrecking crew, needs all the help she can get. It's not that she's hard to find --- just follow the smoke --- but the problem is what to do with her. By the end of the day, she has the police, FBI and a couple of sets of bad guys after her, and we're not sure where Trevor fits into it all. It really doesn't make any difference; Bobbie Faye has them all outnumbered.

There are many things to love about this book --- the plot, the pacing, the dialogue --- but my own favorite element is the characterization. Go to Louisiana, travel east on I-10, past Baton Rouge, and head south. Stop into a grocery store, buy a bag of cracklins' and an ounce of head cheese, and walk around a bit. You'll eventually bump into everyone you read about in BOBBIE FAYE'S VERY (VERY, VERY, VERY) BAD DAY. And I have a feeling that (almost) all the characters will be back. But if you want a short description of this great novel, think Die Hard in the swamp. And Bobbie Faye? She's a titanium magnolia.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Whew!! Get ready for the ride of your life....and prepare accordingly. Bobbie Faye Sumrall's ahead...and she is the bain of the governor of Louisiana's existence. Beautiful, buxom and ballsy, Bobbie Faye is infamous in her hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana...well, hell the entire state. Men swoon, run and cower in fright at the mention of her name...yet none ever quite get over her. As usual, Bobbie Faye's good-for-nothing brother has gotten himself into a whole heap of trouble...and as usual, he calls Bobbie Faye. But this time it's different...there's no woman involved, no infuriated husbands; the cast's entirely different, and it looks like they play for keeps. Roy's been kidnapped, and in exchange for his return the kidnappers want Bobbie Faye's Contraband Queen tiara. And of course, on the trip to get the tiara from the safety deposit box at her bank, the bank is robbed...and the robbers take the tiara also. Soon Bobbie Faye finds herself on the run..with of course sexy hostage/helper Trevor in tow. Amidst gunshots, explosions, car and boat chases---and of course, the involvement of several ex-boyfriends, one in pursuit and one aiding and abetting--Bobbie Faye's got to retrieve her tiara, hand it over to the bad guys, and get her brother back...so she can kill him herself. The trick is to stay alive....and keep her hormones in check, all at the same time.
Bobbie Faye is a hoot, and this tale is rip-roaring, rollicking, gut-busting fun. If Stephanie Plum has a southern sister, I think Bobbie Faye is it.



DYB

The funniest book that I have ever read. You can't stop laughing out loud. The shooting of the truck will make you howl. From Texas and I lived a few years outside N'awlins and I can tell you that the trailer park scenes are damn near the real thing. Please let there be a sequel. Buy this book, you'll love it.

What a brilliant idea! How many nights have you sat around with friends, old or new, and shared horrible stories of the embarrassing and/or bizarre things you'd done in college? This book will have you reading the stories over and over in disbelief... the best of the best.

The lessons learned, the nights you don't want to remember or desperately need to forget...the good, the bad, the ugly.

A great, funny read that shares moments everyone can appreciate, because chances are, in one form or another, you've probably been there. Really entertaining.

It's awesome. I miss college yet some of these stories don't see so far away from me now. ouch!

I dare you to take a trip down memory lane
& relive those days of just plain crazy, insane
and stupid fun...

This book is a must for anyone who went to College
and participated in stuff like this; or even if you
just saw or heard of the stuff that went down on campus.

Life does not get better than that.

I got this book for a friend of mine who just went away to college. I figured I'd read it first (very bad habit) and I was hooked immediately. One of my very favorite parts was the letter and response from the addressee, where the anal retentive dorm mate send out his list of rules, and the laid back one basically tells him to eff off. That cracked me up, and sooo reminded me of my time in a dorm!